MasukGolden autumn light spilled across the room when I opened my eyes.For a moment, I simply lay still, watching the dust dance through the sunlight. The carved wolf sat proudly on the mantle, exactly where it had been for the past month. Beside it rested its mate, the two figures standing together as if they had always belonged side by side.A small smile tugged at my lips.The gold around my wrist was quiet. Peaceful. It no longer felt like a burden or a reminder of pain. It felt like part of me.A month. Only a month had passed since the mating ceremony, yet it felt as though an entirely different life separated me from the woman I had been before – the woman who had lived in fear, who had believed happiness would always be temporary.Now, mornings like this felt normal. And somehow, that was the greatest gift of all.I dressed quickly and headed downstairs. The pack house was already alive. Voices echoed through the halls. People carried baskets filled with late harvest supplies. Chi
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the carved wolf sitting on the mantle across the room.Morning sunlight streamed through the window, painting the wood in shades of gold and amber. For a moment, I simply lay there, watching the light dance across the familiar carving.A week ago, everything had changed. A week ago, I had stood before the pack and bound my life to Kael's. Now, the gold at my wrist rested quietly against my skin. No pain. No fear. No warning.Just peace.I smiled to myself."You're beautiful in the morning."I turned my head and found Kael already awake beside me. His arm was tucked beneath his head as he watched me with that same expression he always wore when he thought I wasn't looking – the one that still made my heart stumble.I laughed softly. "You're biased.""Maybe." His mouth curved into a grin. "But I'm not wrong."Before I could answer, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Warmth spread through me instantly – the kind that had n
I woke to warmth.Not the warmth of sunlight or blankets – the warmth of Kael. His arm rested heavily across my waist, pulling me against his chest. His steady heartbeat thumped softly against my back, slow and calm.For a long moment, I simply lay there. Breathing. Listening. Existing.The room was quiet except for the crackle of dying embers in the hearth and the sound of Kael's breathing behind me. The gold mark at my wrist rested against my skin – quiet, peaceful, content.I couldn't remember the last time I'd woken up without tension already waiting in my chest. No fear. No dread. No feeling that disaster was just around the corner.Just peace.Carefully, I shifted and turned in his arms. Kael didn't wake – not immediately. For once, there was no Alpha mask. No responsibility. No burden.His face was relaxed in sleep. The lines of stress that had once permanently occupied his features were gone. He looked younger. Lighter. Happy.I reached out and traced a finger along his jaw. H
The celebration continued long after the ceremony ended. Bonfires blazed throughout the clearing, casting golden light across smiling faces. Music drifted through the night air. Wolves danced in circles, laughing loudly and without restraint. For once, no one was worried about tomorrow. For once, everyone was simply happy. I stood near one of the fires, Kael's hand firmly wrapped around mine. Every now and then I glanced down at our joined hands, almost expecting the moment to disappear. But it didn't. It stayed. Real and warm. The ceremony was over. The vows had been spoken. And somehow, the weight of that realization settled softly inside my chest – not heavy, comforting. "You're thinking." A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up. Grey approached holding two cups, his grin entirely too smug. He handed one to me. "To the happy couple. Try not to be too disgustingly in love." I laughed. Before I could respond, Rina appeared and smacked his shoulder. "Let
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the carved wolf sitting on my windowsill.Morning sunlight spilled across the room, bathing the small wooden figure in gold. For a moment, I simply lay there, listening to the sounds of another day beginning. Voices drifted through the air. Footsteps echoed downstairs. Somewhere outside, children laughed.Normal sounds. Beautiful sounds.My hand moved instinctively to my wrist. The golden mark rested against my skin, quiet and warm. Not demanding. Not hurting. Peaceful.For so long, I had associated it with pain and fear. With loss. Now, when I looked at it, I thought of survival. I thought of hope.A smile tugged at my lips as I climbed out of bed.When I stepped into the main hall, warmth immediately surrounded me.The room buzzed with life. Several wolves sat arguing over breakfast. Elders occupied chairs near the windows where the sunlight was strongest. Children chased each other between the furniture while exhausted parents pretend
A week ago, I had woken to the sound of battle.Today, I woke to sunlight.The golden morning light spilled through my window, warming the blankets tangled around my legs. For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling. No alarms. No shouting. No urgent knock at the door. Just silence – the good kind.I stretched carefully and winced as healing muscles protested. The soreness lingered, but it wasn't the sharp agony of fresh wounds. It was the ache of recovery. Progress.My gaze drifted to the carved wolf resting on the windowsill. The wood glowed softly in the morning light. A small thing. Yet somehow it reminded me of everything we'd survived.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood.Outside, the pack house was already awake.But it wasn't the tense, anxious energy that had dominated every morning for months. It felt lighter. Not carefree. Just lighter.The scent of breakfast drifted through the hallways as I made my way downstairs. Voices echoed through the main
Gray light filtered through the thin curtains when I opened my eyes.For a moment, I didn't move. The carved wolf rested in my hands, its smooth wooden edges warm from being held too tightly through the night. I stared at it while silence pressed against the room like a weight.Not peace. Never pea
The first thing I saw when I stumbled out of the trees was Kael.Not the mountains behind him. Not the fading light bleeding gold across the snow. Just him.My knees nearly gave out."Selene."He reached me before I hit the ground, catching my arms hard enough to hurt. His hands moved over my shoul
Darkness swallowed everything.For one horrible moment, I thought I was dead.Dust clogged my throat and nose, thick enough to choke on. My ears rang so violently I could barely hear myself breathe. Somewhere nearby, rocks still shifted and cracked, small pieces tumbling through the black.Pain hit
The carved wolf was already in my hand when I woke.For a moment, I lay still beneath the blankets, staring at the faint gray light bleeding through the curtains. The pack house was quiet in that uneasy way it had been lately – too quiet to be peaceful. Somewhere downstairs, floorboards creaked sof







